"One Connect" launched for private estate residents in Marine Parade

SINGAPORE: A one—stop helpline — "One Connect" — was launched on Sunday to help 98,000 private estate residents in Marine Parade with municipal issues.

The Marine Parade cluster includes Marine Parade GRC, Mountbatten SMC and Potong Pasir SMC.

Some 700 residents gathered along Rhu Cross Road to launch the programme on Sunday.

"One Connect" connects private estate residents with government agencies when they are unsure which agency to call for help.

In attendance was Acting Minister for Manpower & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development Mr Tan Chuan—Jin, together with grassroots advisers Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Ms Tin Pei Ling.

More than being a helpline, "One Connect" also aims to proactively drive community bonding programmes such as brisk walking clubs and balloon sculpting.

It also plans to organise community dialogues, inter—condo tennis tournaments and annual lantern festival celebrations to encourage residents to mingle with each other.

Mr Tan said: "The "One Connect" initiative I think is a very important initiative. Obviously, in the HDB estates we have the town councils to provide services to the residents. So what we found over the years is that the private estates, it’s not always easy to navigate. I think we have tried it ("One Connect" initiative) out in other areas, it has worked really well."

— CNA/ck